Conner Farm Wildlife Management Area in Exeter Gets New Parking Area

Work to Be Done In Time for Pheasant Season

EXETER, NH -- The Conner Farm Wildlife Management Area in Exeter will be getting a new parking area the week of September 8. Construction is expected to occur September 9-12. The WMA will remain open to the public during this time.

The new parking area will be gravel and will accommodate 8-10 vehicles. It will be ready for the fall pheasant hunt, which begins October 1, a popular pursuit on the WMA. The existing parking area will remain open at this time for public parking, but is expected to be fenced off later this year.

Five acres around the historic Conner Farm homestead, including the existing parking area, is in the process of being subdivided and conveyed to a descendant of the Conner family who has plans for restoring the old farmhouse. (Click here for map.)

“We are delighted that Mr. Conner has stepped forward with an interest in purchasing the historic Conner farmhouse,” said Glenn Normandeau, Executive Director of the Fish and Game Department. “I can’t think of a better situation than to have a descendant of the original owners purchase the house and restore it to its original condition.”

Once Conner attains ownership, the public will no longer have pedestrian access to where the buildings are located. Visitors will access the WMA on foot through a gate at the back of the new parking area.

“Although the new parking area will be smaller than the original, we will monitor the situation and will consider adding more parking spaces in the future, based on available funding and what we see for hunting pressure this year,” Normandeau said.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s system of 90 Wildlife Management Areas, encompassing more than 52,000 acres across the state, are managed to improve and/or restore habitats for wildlife to aid in maintaining the state’s native biodiversity, and to provide appropriate public access to Fish and Game lands for public recreational use of the state’s fish and wildlife resources. These activities are funded in part by federal Wildlife Restoration Program funds, generated by an excise tax on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment.